SunOpta Announces Expansion of Aseptic Processing and Filling Operations to Meet Increased Demand

05 Dec 2014 --- SunOpta Inc., a leading global company focused on natural and organic foods, announced a significant expansion project at its Allentown, Pennsylvania facility to meet continued customer demand for aseptically processed healthy beverages.

The expansion will add aseptic beverage processing and filling capabilities to SunOpta's existing manufacturing facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Allentown facility currently produces resealable pouch products, and the addition of aseptic beverage capabilities will create a dual purpose consumer products facility that further leverages existing infrastructure while at the same time increasing SunOpta's footprint to better serve North American and International customers. The new aseptic capabilities are expected to be in production in the fourth quarter of 2015, at an estimated initial cost of $25 million, with room for further expansion at the facility as demand grows.

"The expansion of our integrated aseptic platform aligns with our strategy to aggressively grow our value added consumer packaged foods portfolio," said Steve Bromley, Chief Executive Officer of SunOpta Inc. "Demand for aseptically processed healthy beverages continues to grow as consumers focus on health and wellness, and we are well positioned to participate in these fast growing categories. This expansion will enhance our North American aseptic processing footprint, increase capacity and allow us to better serve our customer portfolio."

Earlier this year, SunOpta announced the expansion of its aseptic processing and filling capabilities in Modesto, California with the addition of an additional processor and two multi-serve fillers to increase processing potential, expand capacity and further the broad range of packaging formats provided from the facility. The first new filler is expected to begin production before the end of 2014, and the processor is expected to be commissioned during the first quarter of 2015. The second filler is expected to be commissioned in April 2015.

SunOpta's vertically integrated aseptic beverage capabilities are unique and incorporate raw material sourcing through ingredient production and finished packaged products, providing for control of quality, organic certification, and traceability from the farm to finished packaged product. Current production capabilities include soymilk, rice beverage, almond beverage, hemp milk, sunflower milk, ancient grain beverages, coconut based beverages, nutritional beverages, teas, dairy products and broths among others. SunOpta's aseptic processing operations are currently located in Alexandria, Minnesota and Modesto, California. The Allentown expansion will add strategically important east coast capabilities. Together, the operations of Alexandria, Modesto and Allentown are expected to provide SunOpta with one of the largest integrated healthy beverage processing platforms in North America.